Cable cutter



Aug-8, 1950 i v. E-. SAUTER 2,518,074

CABLE CUTTER Filed Nov. 22, 1946 grwwwkw V/RG/L 5407 153 Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF/ICE".

H CABLE CUTTER Virgil E. Sauter, Schenectady, N. Y;

'ApplicationNovember 22, 1946, Serial No. 711,666

. 3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in cable cutters.

An important object of the invention is to provide a cable cutter adapted particularly for use with heavy armored cable, whereby the armor can be readily severed completely from the insulated wires contained therein, without cutting or damaging such insulation or wires. A further object of theinvention is to provide a device of the above mentioned class having means for tightly gripping the cable while the armor is beingsevered therefrom. V

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevation of a cable cutter embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical-section taken on line 22 of Figure 1, part broken away,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the opposite side of the device as shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a cutter removed, and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line 66 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numerals l0 and H designate the handles of a pair of crossed tongs or pliers, including opposed cable gripping jaws l2 and I3. The jaws l2 and I3 are provided in their inner opposed faces with semi-circular notches or recesses It. The crossed pliers are pivotally connected by means of a pin or bolt M, as shown. Arranged within the recess l3 of each jaw is a semi-circular sleeve section or lining l6, having a radially extending semi-circular flange I1, engaging the outer side of its associated jaw. Each sleeve section is secured to the associated jaw by means of L-shaped clamping dogs l8 and screws l9, extending through openings in the dogs, and engaging in screw threaded openings in the jaws l2 and 3. The inner semi-circular surfaces of the sleeve sections l6 are provided with axially extending corrugations 2|, as shown, to aid in gripping the armored cable 2|; when it is arranged axially between the sleeve sections |6 of the opposed jaws.

The inner side of each of the jaws l2 and I3 is provided with an annular recess 22,"for slidably receiving an axially extending annular extension or flange 23 of a relatively thin flat semi-circular cutter carrying segment or plate 24. Thefiange 23 of each plate 24 is provided with an external annular groove 25, slidably receiving'the inner ends of guide screw 26, secured to the jaws |2 and l3 and arranged radially therein. The guide screws 25 hold the plates 24 against axial movement, but permit them to turn freely about the axis of the jaws. The inner sides of the plates 24 slidably engage the adjacent inner sides of the jaws l2 and I3, as shown. Each plate 24 has a central semi-circular recess or notch 24', in axial alignment or registration with the adjacent recess l3, Figure 4. Each plate 2t is further provided in its outer side with a pair or angularly spaced radial rectangular grooves 21, slidably receiving elongated cable cutters 28, which are preferably rectangular in transverse cross section. The inner portions of the cutters 28 project radially inwardly of the corrugations 2|, and the cutters are beveled at their inner ends as at 29, for forming sharp leading cutting points 3|]. The ends 29 of the cutters are further groundto form blunt stop elements or shoulders 36, raw dially inwardly of the cutting points 3|), and the blunt shoulders 30 limit the radial penetration of the cutting points 30 into the cable 2|.

The cutters 28 are maintained in the grooves 21 by semi-circular cover plates 3|, secured to the outer sides of the plates 24 by screws 32, as shown. The cover plates 3| have central circularly curved recesses 3|, in registration with the recesses 24', to allow the passage of the cable between the sleeve sections I6. Arcuate shaped stifl leaf springs 33 are suitably rigidly secured at their centers to the outer peripheries of the jaws l2 and I3, by means of screws 34 and spacers 35, or the like. The springs 33 are diametrically oppositely arranged, and their outer free ends engage the outer ends of the cutters 28 and bia the same radially inwardly.

The screws 32 carried by the jaw I2 also serve to rigidly secure an inner arcuate extension 36 to the outer face of the adjacent cover plate 3|, and the extension 36 carries a curved generally longitudinal handle 31, spaced from the handles It and II, and used for turning the cutter carrying plates 24 about the axis of the jaws I2 and I3.

In use, the handles l0 and I are spread apart to open the jaws l2 and. IS. The armored cable 2| is introduced between the jaws and tightly clamped between the corrugated sleeve sections l6, when the handles l and II are pulled together. The handle 31 is turned for turning the plates 24, and the points 30 of cutters 28 gradually cut through the outer armor of the cable, under the influence of springs 33. The blunt shoulders 30' are so formed that when the points 30 have severed the cable armor, the shoulders 3| will engage the outer surface of the armor and further inward radial movement of the cutters 28 is prevented. Thus, the cable wires or their insulation will not be cut by the points 30. The handles [0 and l l are of course held closed while the handle 31 is turned so that the cable cannot slip while being cut.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cutting tool for armored cable and the like, comprising a pair of crossed pivotally con nected pliers including opposed gripping jaws to engage the cable for holding the same against turning, the jaws having annular recesses formed in their adjacent sides, cutter carrying plates rotatably mounted upon the sides of the jaws having the recesses and having parts slidably secured within the recesses to guide the plates as they rotate, the plates being provided with radial grooves, cable armor cutters slidably mounted within the radial grooves and extending radially inwardly of the jaws and having their inner ends beveled to form a cutting point and blunt shoulders to limit the depth to which the cutters may penetrate the cable, leaf springs secured to the plates radially outwardly of the cutters to bias the cutters radially inwardly, and a handle connected to one of the plates for rotating the plates and cutters.

2. A cutting tool for armored cable and the like, comprising a pair of crossed pivotally connected pliers including opposed gripping jaws having semi-circular recesses in their opposed faces and annular recesses in their imier sides, opposed corrugated sleeve sections mounted within the semi-circular recesses and constructed and arranged to receive the cable for holding it against turning, cutter carrying plates slidably mounted upon the inner sides of the jaws and including axially extending arcuate flanges engaging in the annular recesses and having grooves, screws mounted upon the jaws and extending into the last-named grooves to prevent axial movement of the plates while permitting them to be turned, radially arranged cutters mounted upon the plates and extending inwardly of the inner surfaces of the corrugated sleeve sections and constructed and arranged to engage the cable to sever the armor therefrom, and a handle connected to one of the plates for turning the plates and cutters.

3. A cutting tool for armored cable and the like, comprising a pair of crossed pivotally connected pliers including opposed gripping jaws to engage the cable for holding the same against turning, the jaws having annular recesses formed in their adjacent sides, cutter carrying plates rotatably mounted upon the sides of the jaws having the annular recesses and having parts slidably secured within said last named recesses to guide the plates as they rotate, the plates being provided in their outer sides with radial grooves, cable armor cutters slidably mounted within the radial grooves and extending radially inwardly of the jaws and having cutting points, leaf springs secured to the plates and engaging the cutters to bias them radially inwardly, cover plates secured to the outer sides of the cutter carrying plates to cover the radial grooves and cutters, and a handle secured to one cover plate for rotating the cutters with respect to the jaws.

VIRGIL E. SAUTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 823,796 Leyes June 19, 1906 967,635 Hewitt Aug. 16, 1910 2,317,944 Schaefer Apr. 2'7, 1943 

